Monday, March 10, 2014

Why Frozen's "Let It Go" Is No Ordinary Song

Every time I listen to the song Let It Go from Disney's movie Frozen I feel emotional. I would get a lump in my throat or my eyes would tear up. The singer Idina Menzel does an amazing job of singing the song, but of course it's more than that, so I started reflecting on it. If you are not familiar with the song, here are the lyrics:

"Let It Go"

The snow glows white on the mountain tonight
Not a footprint to be seen
A kingdom of isolation,
And it looks like I’m the Queen.

The wind is howling like this swirling storm inside
Couldn’t keep it in, heaven knows I tried

Don’t let them in, don’t let them see
Be the good girl you always have to be
Conceal, don’t feel, don’t let them know
Well, now they know

Let it go, let it go
Can’t hold it back anymore
Let it go, let it go
Turn away and slam the door

I don’t care
What they’re going to say
Let the storm rage on,
The cold never bothered me anyway

It’s funny how some distance
Makes everything seem small
And the fears that once controlled me
Can’t get to me at all

It’s time to see what I can do
To test the limits and break through
No right, no wrong, no rules for me
I’m free

Let it go, let it go
I am one with the wind and sky
Let it go, let it go
You’ll never see me cry

Here I stand
And here I'll stay
Let the storm rage on

My power flurries through the air into the ground
My soul is spiraling in frozen fractals all around
And one thought crystallizes like an icy blast
I’m never going back,
The past is in the past

Let it go, let it go
And I'll rise like the break of dawn
Let it go, let it go
That perfect girl is gone

Here I stand
In the light of day
Let the storm rage on,
The cold never bothered me anyway

I think this is a tremendous message for all of us today, particularly girls and women. This song is talking about dropping the facade and letting your true self come through. How many girls out there were taught to be quiet, good, obedient and don't ruffle any feathers? I was that girl too.

I love that my little girls love this song. And every time it's played and we sing it, it helps all of us to be true to ourselves and not abide by rules of what we "should" be.

In the movie, once Elsa (the character who sings the song in the movie) overcomes her fear, she learns to love. And she realizes love could harness her power. Once we let it go, we will realize our true power inside. And I want all the little girls out there to let it go and be free, and be one with wind and sky.